Family :

Service Life:

Campaigns:

• The First World War 1914-1918, World-wide.

The Battle of the Somme 1st July - 18th November 1916 is inevitably characterised by the appalling casualties (60,000) on the first day, July 1st 1916. Having failed to break through the German lines in force, and also failed to maximise opportunities where success was achieved, the battle became a series of attritional assaults on well defended defence in depth. The battle continued officially until 18th November 1916 costing almost 500,000 British casualties. German casualties were about the same, and French about 200,000. The Somme could not be counted a success in terms of ground gained or the cost, but it had a strategic impact as it marked the start of the decline of the German Army. Never again would it be as effective whilst the British Army, learning from its experience eventually grew stronger to become a war winning army. The German High Command recognised that it could never again fight another Somme, a view that advanced the decision to invoke unrestricted submarine warfare in an attempt to starve Britain of food and material, and in doing so accelerated the United States declaration of war thus guaranteeing the eventual outcome. 287 Brethren were killed on the Somme in 1916.

Detail :

Birkenhead News - 11th November 1916 "Holylake Athlete Seriously Wounded - News has been received that Sapper Fred W. Cumpsty (Royal Engineers), fourth son of Mr and Mrs. Isaac Cumpsty, Cable-road, Holylake, has been very dangerously wounded in the left side, which has rendered the amputation of his left arm necessary. At the time of writing his condition was considered critical. Sapper Cumpsty was a first-class gymnast, and secured a regular place in the championship team of the Birkenhead Y.M.C.A club. Later, he received an appointment as instructor at a large gymnasium in South Africa, and spent some time in that country. He was a sidesman at the Parish Church, and is a member of the Hilbre Masonic Lodge. His eldest brother, the Rev. W.J. Cumpsty, is acting as chaplain to the interned British Naval prisoners at Dottingen, Holland; while another brother, George, is on active service in India."

See also: Grange Hill 1922 Research Website which goes into more detail, quoting:

"Fred Cumpsty belonged to a Liverpool family which settled in Hoylake between about 1885 and 1891. When Fred was baptised in 1882, his father, Isaac, was described as being a plumber, but, by 1891, he was a draper whose shop was on Market Street in Hoylake. By 1911, however, at the age of 71, Isaac had reverted to his original line of business and become a builder. He was obviously doing well at it because the family were living in a twelve-roomed house called Dormie at 61 Cable Road, Hoylake, where they employed a servant. Fred’s mother was called Mary Ann....By 1911, Fred was a joiner, working in the building trade; he had seven surviving siblings. One child had died in infancy. Fred had another interesting string to his bow – sport. He was a good all-round athlete, enjoying tennis, bowls, cycling, football and gymnastics. He excelled at the latter discipline and was a key member of the Birkenhead YMCA championship team; he was leading it when they won the 200-guinea shield. He was an instructor in the Hoylake Presbyterian Church Gymnastics Class. Interestingly, the 1911 census reveals that the Cumpstys had a guest in the house – Annie Caroline Letitia Halsted from Port Elizabeth in South Africa. Perhaps it was she who helped to secure Fred’s next position – instructor in a much larger club in South Africa. It must have been an interesting adventure for the young man. He returned to the UK on 25th March 1914 on board the Dunluce Castle (pictured left), belonging to the Union Castle Steamship Company. Poignantly, this vessel was used as a hospital ship during the Gallipoli and East African Campaigns. Once at home, Fred returned to his old trade of domestic joinery. He was also a sidesman at church and a member of the Hilbre Masonic Lodge and Hoylake Cycling Club.

Fred tried to join up at the beginning of the war, but health problems held him back. Eventually, he joined the Royal Engineers in Birkenhead on 18th January 1916. For some reason, he claimed to be 32 years of age – two years younger than he really was. Fred was recorded as being 5’ 4½” tall; he had a 38½” chest with a 4½” expansion. His medal card does not record when he sailed to France, but, in comparison to the men of the Pals Battalions, he does not seem to have had much time to prepare for the front line, as the poor man was dead within eleven months of his enlistment. He passed away after receiving severe injuries on the left hand side of his body and having his arm amputated. At this point, it is not known exactly how he was wounded and where he was when it occurred. Fred’s will was proved in Chester on 10th March 1917; he bequeathed a total of £3024 to his mother and to Alexander Frederick Johnstone, an estate agent. This was a healthy sum of money for a man of his age and background and must be testament to his hard work and good sense. This was another precious life which the local community could ill afford to lose."

Masonic :

Source :

The project globally acknowledges the following as sources of information for research across the whole database:

• The Commonwealth War Graves Commission
• The (UK) National Archives
• Ancestry.co.uk - Genealogy, Family Trees & Family History online
• ugle.org.uk - The records of the United Grand Lodge of England including the Library and Museum of Freemasonry

Additional Source:

• Founder Researchers : Paul Masters & Mike McCarthy
• Researcher : Bruce Littley